Over the past three seasons Mississippi State has lost four games by a field goal or less including a pair of games in 2008.

The addition of two-time junior college All-American kicker Sean Brachule should help alleviate some of the kicking woes the Bulldogs have undergone in recent years.

Brachule's powerful right leg converted 33 of his 44 attempts including a school record 55-yarder at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He led the nation in total points last season and hopes to bring that same kind of success to the Division-I level.

"I'd like to be the No. 1 kicker in the SEC and in the country," Brachule said. "My ambition is just as great at anybody elses so I'm going to try to push myself and practice hard."

Brachule does not have to look far to find motivation at practice. In fact all he has to do is look over his shoulder to see head coach Dan Mullen. Mullen has taken over coaching the special teams and keeps the unit busy throughout practice.

"He makes sure you stay busy," Brachule said. "He doesn't like to see you just standing around and we usually don't like to either."

Mullen has been pleased with both Brachule and walk-on transfer Derek DePasquale with their short range kicks this spring.